The archives of the articles, reviews, interviews and other ramblings written by Sarah E. Jahier (aka Fatally Yours).

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Book Review: Demon Days by Richard Finney and D.L. Snell

Demon Days offers up a hearty serving of
end-of-the-world conspiracies, Biblical prophecy to the End Times, a
clever spin on near death experiences and plenty of political intrigue.
And after reading Demon Days cover-to-cover in one sitting, I was asking for seconds.

While on a romantic vacation, journalist Sandy Travis and fiancé Tom
are in a deadly helicopter accident and Tom has a terrifying near death
experience. When Tom finally comes to, he tells Sandy that he was spoken
to by the “Angel of Light”, who told Tom his work on Earth isn’t
finished.

Meanwhile, Sandy is covering the attempted assassination of a
high-ranking official who is being championed for trying to bring peace
to the war-torn Middle East. As she delves deeper into the mystery of
the assassin, a man she once knew, she uncovers a horrifying correlation
between her husband’s story and the assassin’s.

With the help of Catholic priest Father Olsen, Sandy uncovers a plot
of prophecy and possession that is moving toward triggering the End of
Days. Can Sandy stop certain events from happening before they set off
Armageddon or is she already too late?

This novel by authors Richard Finney and D.L. Snell
is one fast-paced thrill ride! One part church-conspiracy novel, one
part assassin thriller, one part possession horror story and one part
gum-shoe noir, Demon Days is an intense and
gripping read. I was so engrossed in its fast-paced story that I
finished it in one sitting! Not very many books can hold me in their
thrall like that, but Demon Days completely sucked me in.

I especially liked the sinister stance the authors took on near death
experiences. The idea that the “light at the end of the tunnel” could
actually be evil rather than good is a unique perspective I’ve never
seen explored before! I love the concept of demons being able to possess
people through near death experiences and think that Finney and Snell
have introduced a very scary scenario with this idea.

It’s not only the intriguing story with its many twists and turns
that enthralled me, but also the well-developed characters, all of whom I
came to care about. There is a shocking and grisly death that occurs in
the book that completely caught me off guard and was genuinely
upsetting. It happens to a character we’ve come to love as much as the
main character Sandy loves, so it’s quite startling when the death
occurs.

Speaking of deaths, there are a few gruesome ones that happen in the book, but don’t expect a blood-soaked story. Demon Days
works on a more psychological level, though the characters do suffer
some rather violent attacks. One of the creepier scenes happens when
Sandy discovers a hidden underground lair of the assassin, which is
covered in excrement, vomit and other bodily liquids. Her descent into
this dark pit of inequity was truly hair-raising! There is also a
demon-possessed boy stalking Father Olsen (who happens to be blind) and
his sudden appearances always got my pulse racing! The end boasts a
mind-numbing twist that I did not see coming and sets up for the sequel,
Demon Days: Angel of Light, which I eagerly await!

If demon-possession, near death experiences and church prophecies
about Armageddon intrigue you, then I wholeheartedly recommend Demon Days! It is expertly written by Richard Finney (The Wind Raider) and D.L. Snell (Roses of Blood on Barbwire Vines) and is a nail-bitingly good novel that is hard to put down.